Enter any address in Wahkiakum County, Washington to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow and localized flooding are the dominant flood characteristics in Wahkiakum County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 41 flood events. Recent examples include localized flooding on the Grays River near the coast on February 25, 2025, and river flooding in areas draining out of the Willapa Hills on December 18, 2024. An atmospheric river event on December 4, 2023, also brought minor river flooding to the Grays River near Rosburg.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $19,315 and an average water depth of 7.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also have a history of claims, averaging $10,788 in payouts and 5.8 feet of water depth. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or Zone X, particularly those located near rivers or in low-lying coastal areas, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wahkiakum County, Washington has recorded 41 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 32 federal disaster declarations, 14 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Dec 9, 2025 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jan 5, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Nov 3, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-line Winds, Floodin | Flood | Dec 26, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 29, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides | Flood | Jan 30, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, And A T | Flood | Dec 1, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 28, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 11, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 6, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 15, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 12, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 20, 2020 | 0.00K |
Flood — Feb 25, 2025
A strengthening upper-level low and an associated strong low pressure system at the surface tracked just off the Pacific Northwest coast leading to a period of high winds. Heavy snow also fell across the south Washington Cascades during this period in addition to localized flooding on the Grays River near the coast. The frontal passage during the early afternoon hours of Feb 24th allowed for a ...
Flood — Dec 26, 2024
A strong cold frontal boundary followed by an unsettled period of lower snow-level and the arrival of a potent secondary low pressure system brought heavy snow to the Cascades and high winds to the coast.
Flood — Dec 18, 2024
The passage of a warm frontal boundary and mature surface low facilitated high winds along the coast into the coast range. This aforementioned frontal boundary also brought a rise in snow levels increasing river levels, especially those following out of the Willapa Hills where localized river flooding was present.
Flood — Dec 4, 2023
A strong atmospheric river brought heavy rains on December 5th which led to minor river and urban flooding across portions of southwest Washington. Clark County and Cowlitz County saw landslides, along with minor river flooding, including the Cowlitz River at Kelso and the Grays River near Rosburg. Portions of the Willapa Hills and south Washington Cascades received 12 to 16 inches of rain over...
Flood — Feb 28, 2022
An atmospheric river event, starting late Sunday February 27th and continuing through Monday February 28th, brought heavy rain and strong winds to northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Rainfall amounts varied from around one inch in the Willamette Valley, to 5 to 10 inches in the Coast Range as well as the Washington and northern Oregon Cascades. Widespread urban and small stream flooding ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Wahkiakum County, Washington:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Wahkiakum County, Washington that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.